Cristian Grases

Cristian Grases joined the USC Thornton faculty in the Fall 2010
semester as assistant professor of choral music and conductor of
the USC Thornton Concert Choir. Born in Venezuela, he earned
degrees from the Simón Bolivar University (MM), where his principle
teachers were Maria Guinand and Alberto Grau, and the University of
Miami (DMA). He has previously served as interim director of choral
activities at Central Washington University and assistant professor
in choral music at California State University.

An award winning conductor and composer, Dr. Grases receieved
the prestigious award for the arts in Venezuela, Orden José Felix
Ribas for artistic merit, first prize at the Emerging Composer
Competition at Yale University for his work Visiones del Llano—2.
Amanecer, and an invitation from Helmuth Rilling to study at the
Sommerakademie in Stuttgart, Germany. Additionally, he has been
comissioned to write for several prestigious organizations such as
the Piedmont Children's Chorus and the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, and
his works have been performed by the Los Angeles Master
Chorale.

Dr. Grases has participated in numerous festivals, workshops,
and events as a guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and
conducting pedagogue in North and South America, Europe, and Asia.
Most recently, he guest conducted in Canada, France, Denmark, The
Netherlands, Israel, Indonesia, China, and Venezuela. He has also
presented sessions in the World Symposia in Denmark and Argentina,
and several ACDA regional and national conventions. This season Dr.
Grases has been invited to guest conduct in California, New Mexico,
Canada, and Japan.

During his time in Florida, Dr. Grases was the founder and
artistic director of Amazonia Vocal Ensemble, based in Miami, with
a focus on Latin American repertoire. He also served as conductor
for the Women’s Chamber Ensemble of the University of Miami, was
the assistant conductor of the Miami Symphony Orchestra under
Maestro Eduardo Marturet, and the conductor of the Young Musician’s
Orchestra.

In 2004, Dr. Grases was selected by the International Federation
for Choral Music as one of a five-member committee for the
Songbridge Project, together with renowned choral masters and
chaired by the creator of the project, Erkki Pohjola (Finland). He
was elected into the Board of Directors of the International
Federation for Choral Music in 2008 and remains active in this
position. In addition, Grases is currently chair of the Ethnic and
Multicultural Repertoire and Standards Committee for the Western
Division of the American Choral Directors Association, he is the
editor of the Children’s and Youth Column for the International
Choral Bulletin, and is in charge of the new Choral Series entitles
“The Choral Music of Latin America and the Caribbean” published by
Gentry Publications.